You're spot on. When compatibility mode is enabled for Win7, it will disable aero to run the game. This is perfectly normal behavior.

You'll notice we only list windows XP under compatibility for this reason.
I did spend some time working with valve to do a few optimizations to get it to run without any user work on windows 7 however - All of the machines I use at work and home for the game are win7 based. (both x86 and x64)

Since AoE is incompatible with Windows Aero, disabling it (going into the windows classic style) should fix the radioactive wasteland color problem in Age of Empires 2 right? I can't believe I haven't thought of this before, I gotta try it when I get home.

Can someone confirm this for me?

Also I remember reading something about the legacy AoE games coming to steam, any idea when? I'm going to buy the living crap out of them.

Since AoE is incompatible with Windows Aero, disabling it (going into the windows classic style) should fix the radioactive wasteland color problem in Age of Empires 2 right? I can't believe I haven't thought of this before, I gotta try it when I get home.

Can someone confirm this for me?

Also I remember reading something about the legacy AoE games coming to steam, any idea when? I'm going to buy the living crap out of them.

No, unfortunately what you're describing with AOE2 happens to be due to a different color palette and direct X variations over the last 12 years (gosh....has it been that long already?). I've heard about some workarounds for that in the past, but you'd have to search up some user forums - there's currently no official workaround for AOE2 color issues on win7.

No, unfortunately what you're describing with AOE2 happens to be due to a different color palette and direct X variations over the last 12 years (gosh....has it been that long already?). I've heard about some workarounds for that in the past, but you'd have to search up some user forums - there's currently no official workaround for AOE2 color issues on win7.

Sigh well that's too bad, was looking forward to playing it properly again